Customizable saturation biopsy

Abstract

A system and method for customized saturation biopsy is provided that facilitates diagnosis, management and treatment of cancer or other disease in a gland or organ. The system includes a pathology mapping unit that identifies a plurality of regions of a biopsy area. A grid assembly is coupled to the pathology mapping unit, the grid assembly including a grid disposed externally to the biopsy area. A display is coupled to the pathology mapping unit that displays information corresponding to the plurality of regions of the biopsy area, the pathology mapping unit controlling a configuration of the grid and the information corresponding to the plurality of regions. An image probe can be provided that acquires at least one image of the biopsy area, and the display displays the at least one image. An interface can be provided that is coupled to the display and supplies information to the pathology mapping unit.

We claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for customized saturation biopsy, comprising:
 a pathology mapping unit for identifying a plurality of regions of a biopsy area to perform a biopsy; 
 a grid assembly coupled to the pathology mapping unit, the grid assembly having an external grid, the external grid being one of a floating grid visually and physically projected onto the biopsy area or a controllable electromechanical grid overlying the biopsy area, the electromechanical grid having at least one select aperture actuatable between open and closed states; and 
 a display coupled to the pathology mapping unit to display information corresponding to the plurality of regions of the biopsy area for the biopsy, 
 wherein the pathology mapping unit is configured to control a configuration of the external grid and the information corresponding to the plurality of regions of the biopsy area for the biopsy without one or more markers in conjunction with the grid assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an imaging probe coupled to the pathology mapping unit configured to acquire at least one image of the biopsy area, 
 wherein the display is configured to display the at least one image for the biopsy. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an interface coupled to the display, the interface being configured to supply information for the biopsy to the pathology mapping unit. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the interface includes at least two visual displays corresponding to the plurality of regions of the biopsy area. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the biopsy area is at least one of a gland, an organ or a lesion. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the controllable electromechanical grid comprises a plurality of apertures including the at least one select aperture, the at least one select aperture of the plurality of apertures being selectively and actively actuatable in an electromechanical manner to open or close the at least one select aperture independently from the remainder of the plurality of apertures for selective access to a select area for the biopsy. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the information corresponding to the plurality of regions for the biopsy includes at least one of grid location information or a depth of needle insertion for the biopsy. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the information corresponding to the plurality of regions for the biopsy includes analyzed information of a disease for which to perform the biopsy. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pathology mapping unit automatically determines a schema to identify the plurality of regions of the biopsy area for the biopsy. 
 
     
     
       10. A customizable saturation biopsy system to perform a biopsy, the system comprising a controller, a pathology mapping unit and a display, the controller being adapted to:
 identify in communication with the pathology mapping unit a plurality of regions of a biopsy area for the biopsy; 
 configure a grid assembly coupled to the pathology mapping unit disposed externally to the biopsy area to identify one or more sample locations for the biopsy, the grid assembly having an external grid, the external grid being one of a floating grid visually and physically projected onto the biopsy area or a controllable electromechanical grid overlying the biopsy area, the electromechanical grid having at least one select aperture actuatable between open and closed states, the pathology mapping unit identifying one or more sample locations for the biopsy without one or more markers in conjunction with the grid assembly; and 
 display information on the display corresponding to the plurality of regions of the biopsy area and the grid assembly for the biopsy. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an imaging probe in communication with the controller, the controller being further adapted to acquire at least one image of the biopsy area from the imaging probe and to display the at least one image on the display. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an interface in communication with the controller, the controller being further adapted to supply information from the interface to the pathology mapping unit. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the interface includes at least two visual displays corresponding to the plurality of regions of the biopsy area. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the biopsy area is at least one of a gland, an organ or a lesion. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the controllable electromechanical grid comprises a plurality of apertures including the at least one select aperture, the at least one select aperture of the plurality of apertures being selectively and actively actuatable in an electromechanical manner to open or close the at least one select aperture independently from the remainder of the plurality of apertures for selective access to a select area for the biopsy. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the information corresponding to the plurality of regions for the biopsy includes at least one of grid location information or a depth of needle insertion for the biopsy. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the information corresponding to the plurality of regions for the biopsy includes analyzed information corresponding to a disease for which to perform the biopsy. 
 
     
     
       18. A method for customized saturation biopsy, comprising:
 identifying a plurality of regions of a biopsy area for a biopsy; 
 automatically configuring a grid assembly disposed externally to the biopsy area, the grid assembly having an external grid, the external grid being one of a floating grid visually and physically projected onto the biopsy area or a controllable electromechanical grid overlying the biopsy area, the electromechanical grid having at least one select aperture actuatable between open and closed states, the identifying the plurality of regions of the biopsy area being performed without one or more markers in conjunction with the grid assembly; 
 displaying information corresponding to the plurality of regions of the biopsy area and the grid assembly; and 
 performing the biopsy in one or more of the plurality of regions of the biopsy area according to the grid assembly identifying one or more sample locations for the biopsy and the information corresponding to the plurality of regions. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the information corresponding to the plurality of regions includes at least one of grid location information for the one or more sample locations for the biopsy, a depth of needle insertion or analyzed information corresponding to a disease for which to perform the biopsy.